Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
- A Zion National Park employee, Luis Garcia, suffered severe burns from a house explosion.
- Garcia was installing a gas dryer when it exploded, causing extensive property damage.
- He is hospitalized in Las Vegas, facing multiple surgeries and a long recovery.
ROCKVILLE, Washington County — A National Park Service worker is recovering from serious burns and blast injuries after his family said he was injured by an accidental explosion in his house.
Luis Garcia's family said he was installing a gas dryer in his basement at 101 E. Main Street when it suddenly blew up in his face, causing the house to catch on fire.
"I'm just sitting there and like a big, loud boom, and the TV fell," said Garcia's stepson, Adrian Becerra Ponce.
He found Garcia in a smoky basement.
"He was yelling. He was in pain because of the burns," Becerra Ponce said.
Garcia's family said the gas dryer exploded, blowing out the windows and doors. His 11-year-old stepson helped his stepfather get upstairs and outside to safety.
"My aunt, Maricela, and me were at work, and then we get a call saying, 'Hey, your house is on fire,' and so we started heading this way," Nayeli Zuniga Ponce said, who lives at Garcia's house. "Once we get here into Rockville, there's a line of cars that are just stopped."
First responders from the fire district to the park service flooded the street in front of Luis Garcia's Rockville home on April 19.
"I see Luis is already on a chair and he's all burnt and covered up with a blanket," Zuniga Ponce said. "I also see little Adrian… he's just scared, wrapped up in the blanket and crying."
She said she didn't realize how bad the situation was until they were told Garcia was going to be airlifted.
He's now hospitalized in Las Vegas with serious burn and blast injuries.
"He did have his first surgery," said daughter-in-law Alisha Becerra. "He is still in a tremendous amount of pain."
She said her father-in-law is a sweet man, dad and grandfather, and the family's provider.
"He loves his co-workers, he loves the park, he loves that he can preserve its beauty," Becerra said.
While he slowly recovers, the family is grappling with what they lost.
"There's one room that was completely damaged, that's Adrian's room," Zuniga Ponce said.
All of their belongings are coated in ash.
'We aren't sure if anything is salvageable," Becerra said.
She and other family members have taken in the relatives who were displaced, while their loved one is treated in a burn unit miles away.
"He is just doing the best that he can," Becerra said. "He is having a hard time with his recovery."
Garcia's family said he'll have to undergo several surgeries for his burns. They're also monitoring damage to his throat.
As of right now, they don't know how long his recovery will take, and what will happen to their house. They're accepting donations through GoFundMe* .
*KSL.com does not assure that the money deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account, you should consult your own advisers and otherwise proceed at your own risk.
